Weaponsight mounting device



Jan. 30, 1968 WWW 3,366,358

WEAPONS IGHT MOUNTING DEVI CE Filed Jan. 4/1966 WWW INVENTOR,

United States Patent 3,366,358 WEAPONSIGHT MOUNTING DEVICE Alfred 0. Luning, Prince Georges County, Md., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Jan. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 518,734 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-226) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The Weaponsight mounting device of this invention is an adapter means for connecting a weaponsight means to a handle portion of a rifle. The weaponsight has attachment means that slide-fit on one side of the mounting device, or bracket, and the other side of the bracket is readily fitted within the handle of a rifle, such as the Army M-16. The handle engaging portions of the mounting device accommodate for the variations of handle dimensions and means are provided to properly position the weaponsight with respect to the rifle. Further, provisions are made for secure connection of the bracket to the rifle during transport and firing.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalties thereon.

This invention is directed to a bracket means and, more particularly, to a weaponsight bracket. For rifles of the type that have a handle on the top with a peep sight therethrough, a weaponsight device has to be mounted by some auxiliary structure. This invention provides a bracket which enables a weaponsight device to be readily secured to a rifle with an over-the-breech handle, such as the M-16 Army rifle.

An object of this invention is to provide a rigid-nonmoveable bracket for adapting a weaponsight to a gun, said gun having a rigid. carrying handle, at or near the breech, and wherein said bracket obviates the need for close tolerances on dimensions at the areas of attachment to the gun.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bracket as described above requiring but one simple screw means of attachment to said gun.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bracket as described wherein all cooperating, that is, coacting parts are captivated and held together as one assembly at all times so as to preclude separation or detachment with the possibility of a resultant loss of parts, whether the bracket is mounted on said gun or removed therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means in the bracket described to contain, in fixed spaced relationship, the cooperating parts employed to tighten and secure the bracket to the gun that means is provided thereby to facilitate mounting and dismounting the bracket from the gun.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a bracket for adapting a night vision weaponsight to a weapon, said weapon having fixed daysight, said bracket, allowing use of either daysight or night vision sight simultaneously or alternately and precluding in said use the need to remove one sight to employ the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rigid bracket for adapting a weaponsight to a weapon, said bracket employing wedge means wherein by the simple expedient of changing the angles of said wedge means the horizontal and vertical force components of said means can be changed advantageously to obtain any optimum combination of forces that may be required in a particular case to securely attach said bracket to said weapon.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a weaponsight adapter bracket as described above that can be easily and instantly mounted on or removed from a Weapon in the dark. No tools are required. During night combat the important advantage of this feature, it is to be appreciated, is readily apparent.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mounting bracket for attaching a weaponsight to a gun wherein means is provided to render said attachment shakeproof under vibration and shock.

The exact nature of this invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will be readily apparent from consideration of the following specification relating to the annexed drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the bracket of this invention shown to be mounted on a rifle;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view as seen along line 22 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the bracket of this invention.

Bracket 11 is shown in FIGURE I mounted on rifle 10, shown in dotted line, having a breech top 12 and a handle 13 thereover. Blanket 11 extends from its point of securement to a slide support for weaponsight and locking stop 19. Apertures 32 are provided in bracket 11 to reduce weight, a consideration consistent with hand carried equipment. The A frame wedge 23 is controlled by a securing means such as bolt 29 to lock the bracket into the handle 13. Seat 35 in bracket 11 provides a base for the A frame 23 to contact the bracket while the top of the A frame 23 contacts the handle 13.

As seen in FIGURE 2, the telescope support means 19, as shown at the end of the transition body member 18, terminates in an arcuate position having contact surfaces 16 and 17 engage with corner surfaces 26 and 27, respectively, of the upper breech section 12. The bracket 11 is provided with a wedge ear 22 position substantially centrally and in a direction longitudinally of the rifle handle 13 and breech 12. This wedge ear 22 being integral with the bracket 11 is of greater dimension than the opening between handle 13 and breech 12. The bracket is properly installed as shown in FIGURE 2. It is important that the height of wedge ear 22 be greater than the opening of the handle but not exceed a height that would be too great for ready insertion of the ear under the handle. Wedge 22 and A frame wedge 23 are clamped on opposed sides of the bot-tom of the handle 13 with a securing means 29 and 21, such as a bolt and wing nut, clamping the two wedges toward each other. The upper inner surfaces of the wedges are provided with contact surfaces 24 and 25 which contact surfaces 14 and 15, respectively, of handle 13. Along the length of the bracket 1 1, therefore, surfaces 24, 25, 26 and 27, contact the handle and breech to assure sturdy installation of the bracket. The arcuate surfaces 26 and 27 of the bracket 11 along with the slanted surfaces 24 and 25 provide for universal adaptation to varying the dimensions of handle openings. The arcuate position between contact surfaces 26 and 27 can, of course, be V- shaped to accomplish the same purpose. A spring 28 is provided on bolt 29 to open A frame wedge 23 upon loosening of wing nut 21.

In FIGURE 3 bracket 11 is shown in position on the breech with the handle removed. It is to be noted that a position device 31 extends from the end of the bracket 11 facing the end of the barrel of the rifle. Position device 31 is shown contacting the upper right portion of the handle so that to provide a secure position for the bracket to counteract recoil forces applied thereto. It is to be noted that the open end of the bracket from position device 31 is separated from the upper right part of the handle by approximately of an inch. This clearance enables easy insertion of the bracket and also limits the longitudinal movement thereof.

A lock washer can be provided on the securing means 29, 21, to prevent turning of the bolt 29 and eliminate the need of a wrench and wing nut 21 can be tightened by hand. Bolt 29 is long enough that A frame 23 will not fall off when wing nut is backed off enough for removal of the bracket. The transition member 18 is provided with a cutout seat 35 for proper positioning of A frame 23 therein. Seat 35 provides an abutment against which A frame 23' presses along with its pressing against corner surfaces 14, 15, of handle 13.

To eliminate the need for close tolerances in dimensioning the bracket in the areas where contact is made with the gun, the ends, or resting portions of the bracket, are formed arcuate to overlap the contact areas. By this provision the bracket Will always accommodate the shape and size of the lower portion of the gun handle, whether it is a little wider or narrower than the width shown. This is needed when the bracket is moved to a different gun of the same type. Similarly, the wedge sections accommodate va-riance in size that might be encountered in the width and surface height between the top and bottom of the gun handle. Thus, as seen, the bracket design permits loose tolerances of the gun handle as well as loose tolerances on its own mating parts. Wedge 23 is designed to provide a stable three point contact between the gun handle and against the bracket. In this manner, the bracket is centrally held against tipping, clockwise and counter clockwise by moment forces that are applied at either the left or right end of the bracket.

Projecting boss 31 at the left on front end of the bracket acts as a stop against the handle so that recoil from firing the gun is transmitted to the bracket, and precludes the bracket from sliding axially in the handle.

, It is to be noted that the points of contact between the bracket and the handle and breech top are chosen to prevent counter clockwise rotation of the bracket under load. Further, all of the forces to which the bracket is subjected are countered by the structure thereof to assure a stable and reliable support bracket for weaponsights mounted thereon. The A frame wedge 23 is constructed with a wedge angle sufiicient to provide enough strength to withstand a greater moment produced by mounting a heavier weaponsight on the bracket or for greater moment caused by any other means.

It is seen that I have provided a weaponsight bracket that accomplished the objectives set forth above. The

4 structure taught by this invention can be effectively applied to any mounting means that requires attachment through an aperture.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A weaponsight mounting device including a body member having a top, a bottom, a first and a second side, and a first and a second end,

a first, a second, a third and a fourth surface for contasting a weapon when said device is mounted thereon,

said top formed with said first surface at said first side,

said bottom formed with an arcuate channel at and parallel to said first side,

said second surface formed in said arcuate channel adjacent said first side,

said third surface formed in said arcuate channel remote from said first side,

a movable rigid means having two ends formed with said fourth surface on one end thereof,

a locating means in said top for positioning said other end of said movable rigid means therein,

securing means connected between said first side and said movable rigid means for securing said mounting device on the weapon,

and means for mounting a weaponsight on said second side.

2. The weaponsight mounting device of claim 1 wherein said movable rigid means is an A frame shaped wedge.

3. The weaponsight mounting device of claim 1 including a locating boss protruding from said body member parallel to said first side and axially aligned with said arcuate channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,240 11/1905 Sims 248227.1 2,601,613 6/ 1952 Johncke 248229 3,222,022 12/ 1965 Akin 248205 3,295,811 1/ 1967 Giwosky 248229 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

